Things to Do in Kabul

Central public park with walking paths, playgrounds and a pond. Popular with locals for picnics and evening strolls. Free entry always.

🕐 24/7 (gates open sunrise to sunset)

💡 No entry fee. Best visited Friday afternoon for the liveliest scene — street food vendors sell corn on the cob and boiled eggs for pocket change.

Laid-out gardens from the 16th century, restored by the Aga Khan Trust. Terraced walks, a small museum and the tomb of Emperor Babur. Popular with families at weekends.

🕐 Daily 08:00–20:00 (winter until 17:00)

💡 Entry is 200 AFN (about £2). Go early morning to avoid crowds and soak up the quiet. The cafe near the top sells decent green tea for 30 AFN.

Shrine of the 18th-century founder of modern Afghanistan, in the old city. Simple white marble building, still a pilgrimage site for locals.

🕐 Daily 06:00–20:00

💡 Free entry. Remove your shoes and cover your head out of respect. A donation box is there if you wish to give a few AFN.

Ruined 1920s palace, heavily shelled during civil war. Now under reconstruction but still dramatic from the outside. The grounds are open and free.

🕐 Exterior accessible 24/7; interior closed to public

💡 Free to walk the perimeter. Bring your own water — no shops nearby. Best light for photos is late afternoon.

Holds over 100,000 items from Afghanistan’s ancient past, including Buddhist, Islamic and pre-Islamic artifacts. Many pieces were damaged or looted during war, but the collection remains significant.

🕐 Sat–Thu 08:00–16:30, closed Fri

💡 Entry is about 20 AFN (30p). Hire a local guide outside for 100 AFN — they give context you won’t get from the labels.